Work Text:
Qing Geng found Fei by the pond.
His knees were drawn up to his chest, his robes spread around him like a quiet lake. He leaned forward ever so slightly, as though he were studying something beneath the water's surface.
Within a few steps, Qing Geng was beside him. Her robes rustled softly with each movement, like the wind weaving through the leaves of the trees. She lowered herself onto the cool stone beside him, patches of soft moss brushing against her hands.
Fei looked up. His pale eyes found hers and immediately brightened. The morning sun bathed his face in warm golden light, making his eyes glow like amber. A stray strand of hair had fallen across his face, and Qing Geng gently tucked it behind his ear.
He smiled shyly before looking away again, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the fabric of his robe.
"How do I look to you?" His gaze flickered back to her for only a heartbeat before returning to the pond. Qing Geng followed his eyes.
Water lilies drifted across the dark water, their delicate white and pale pink petals standing out against its mirror-like surface. Sunlight danced upon the ripples like scattered diamonds, while dragonflies hovered overhead, their fragile wings shimmering blue and green.
Fei's reflection stared back at her. So that was what he had been looking at.
She drew a slow breath. "Fei," she said softly. "Look at me." Scooting a little closer, she slipped her hands into his.
He lifted his eyes to meet hers. Tears shimmered within them, and the sight made her heart ache. Slowly, she reached for his cheek, giving him every chance to pull away if he wanted to. When he didn't, her thumb gently brushed away the tear that had escaped down his cheek.
"They kept looking at me." His fingers tightened around the fabric of his robe. "I know they didn't mean to... but they wouldn't stop." His voice grew quieter. "Do I really look that strange?"
Qing Geng's heart clenched. Fei turned away again, his eyes falling back to his reflection in the pond. "Do you think..." His fingertip traced the reflection of one of his horns across the water. "...they'll always see this first?"
"I didn't." A gentle smile touched her lips. "I saw your smile first." Her thumb brushed across his knuckles.
"And then your eyes." She smiled a little wider. "They always shine whenever the sun finds them."
Fei looked back at her. There was still doubt in his eyes, but something softer had found its way in as well—something fragile. He glanced down once more.
The reflection was still there.
The horns.
The pale eyes.
The face he no longer knew how to look at.
Then Qing Geng's hand slipped down until her fingertips brushed the water. Ripples spread across the pond, shattering the reflection. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked back at her, tears still clinging to his lashes. Without a word, Qing Geng wrapped her arms around him, holding him close as her hand gently stroked his back.
"It's okay," she whispered. "I'm here."
Soon she felt the fabric of her robes grow damp beneath his tears. She simply held him. Sometimes, it was better to let emotions flow than to lock them away inside.
After a while, Fei slowly pulled away. His eyes were red from crying.
"You don't think I look like a monster?"
Qing Geng shook her head. "No," she said firmly. "You look like a little dragon." A shaky smile found its way onto Fei's lips. "Dragons are much more impressive. Like Zhou Daren."
"They can look like you, too." Her smile softened. "A little lost. A little unsure."
He looked at her again. There was so much hope in his eyes that Qing Geng felt her heart ache and swell all at once. She gently cupped his face with both hands and leaned closer until her forehead rested against his. She could feel the small horns curving from his temples, the soft strands of hair brushing against her cheeks, and the comforting warmth of his skin.
"I like you exactly the way you are," she whispered into the spring breeze.
And, for that moment, nothing more needed to be said.